POLIENCEPHALOMYELITIS Meaning and
Definition
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Poliencephalomyelitis is a medical condition characterized by inflammation of the gray matter in the brain (encephalo-) and the spinal cord (myelitis). It involves the inflammation of multiple parts of these structures, including the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, brainstem, and spinal cord. Also known as poliomyelitis, this condition is primarily caused by an enterovirus called the poliovirus.
Poliencephalomyelitis often leads to the destruction of motor neurons, resulting in muscle weakness, paralysis, and potential respiratory failure. It mainly affects children, primarily due to their lack of immunity against the virus. The most common mode of transmission is through oral-fecal contact or contact with respiratory droplets from an infected person. In severe cases, this viral infection can cause widespread damage to the central nervous system, leading to lifelong disabilities or even death.
Signs and symptoms of poliencephalomyelitis can include fever, headache, sore throat, stiff neck, muscle pain, and weakness. In severe cases, individuals may experience difficulty in breathing and swallowing, as well as flaccid paralysis or even complete paralysis of various muscles.
Prevention of poliencephalomyelitis mainly involves immunization through the administration of polio vaccines. These vaccines have been highly effective in reducing the incidence of the disease worldwide. Since the introduction of vaccines, the number of polio cases has significantly decreased. However, in some regions, this condition may still occur due to limited access to vaccines or vaccine refusal. Therefore, maintaining high vaccine coverage across populations is crucial to eradicating poliencephalomyelitis globally.
Common Misspellings for POLIENCEPHALOMYELITIS
- ooliencephalomyelitis
- loliencephalomyelitis
- 0oliencephalomyelitis
- piliencephalomyelitis
- pkliencephalomyelitis
- plliencephalomyelitis
- ppliencephalomyelitis
- p0liencephalomyelitis
- p9liencephalomyelitis
- pokiencephalomyelitis
- popiencephalomyelitis
- pooiencephalomyelitis
- poluencephalomyelitis
- poljencephalomyelitis
- polkencephalomyelitis
- poloencephalomyelitis
- pol9encephalomyelitis
- pol8encephalomyelitis
- poliwncephalomyelitis
- polisncephalomyelitis
Etymology of POLIENCEPHALOMYELITIS
The word "poliencephalomyelitis" is a medical term used to describe a type of inflammation that affects both the gray matter of the brain (encephalo-) and the spinal cord (myelitis), often caused by viral infection.
The term can be further broken down into its components: "polio-" comes from the Greek word "polios", meaning "gray", referring to the gray matter of the brain and spinal cord. "Encephalo-" also derives from Greek, meaning "brain". "Myel-" comes from the Greek word "myelos", meaning "marrow" or "spinal cord". Finally, "-itis" is a suffix used in medical terminology to indicate inflammation.
Therefore, the etymology of "poliencephalomyelitis" can be traced back to its Greek origins, highlighting the involvement of the gray matter of the brain, spinal cord, and inflammation.
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